A big surprise step for Nawaz Sharif from Punjab Government
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The caretaker Punjab government has reportedly suspended the sentence of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia reference. This action was taken by the government using its powers under Section 401 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which grants them the authority to suspend a convict's sentence.
It's worth noting that this wasn't the first time Nawaz Sharif's sentence had been suspended. Before he traveled to London in 2019 for medical treatment, his sentence had also been suspended.
Caretaker Punjab Information Minister Amir Mir explained that the government suspended Nawaz Sharif's sentence within the bounds of its constitutional authority. However, he made it clear during an interview with Samaa TV that the government could only suspend the sentence and not entirely remove it.
Back in December 2018, an accountability court had sentenced the former prime minister to seven years in jail in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case. He was, however, acquitted in the Flagship Investments reference.
The court had also imposed a fine of Rs1.5 billion and $25 million on Nawaz in the Al-Azizia case, in addition to a 10-year disqualification from holding any public office, which was to take effect after he completed the seven-year jail term.
